Food for Thought: 2024 Total Solar Eclipse | A Most Magnificent Sight: Solar Eclipses and IU History

On April 8, 2024, North America will experience a total solar eclipse, which will pass over numerous states and countless locations, including the Indiana University campuses in Bloomington, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Richmond, and Columbus, Indiana. In collaboration with the IU Alumni Association, the Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences is hosting a special series about this astronomical phenomenon.
During this Food for Thought presentation, IU Wylie House Museum Director and Associate Librarian Carey Champion discussed IU Bloomington’s history with total solar eclipses, including the 1869 total solar eclipse witnessed and documented by Professor Theophilus Wylie at the historic Wylie House. Following her presentation, Ms. Champion participated in a brief moderated Q&A session.
IU campuses across the state are planning events and programming for the eclipse to educate the public about this natural phenomenon. To learn more, visit eclipse.iu.edu/.
The College would like to recognize IU Libraries for their partnership and support of this event.
Presentation Description: IU’s historic Wylie House has witnessed solar eclipses, devastating fires, Indiana’s first telephone, and the exponential growth of the university. The 1835 home was built by IU’s first president, Andrew Wylie; however, it was his cousin, Professor Theophilus Wylie, who documented the pursuit of local astronomy. In the summer of 1869, Theophilus invited colleagues Daniel Kirkwood and Elisha Ballantine, among others, to the roof of Wylie House to observe a total eclipse of the sun- “a most magnificent sight,” according to his August 8th diary entry. Wylie’s archival materials provide a glimpse into this and other 19th-century eclipses.
Speaker Biography: Carey Champion, MLS (Indiana University) is an Associate Librarian and Director of the Wylie House Museum at Indiana University. She manages the historic home, its archival and object collections, and its Morton C. Bradley, Jr. Education Center. Carey serves as a liaison between the museum and faculty, students, scholars, and the broader community. Her research interests include pedagogical approaches to primary source instruction and the evolving modes of inclusive interpretation at heritage sites. She most enjoys working closely with students and staff to create an inviting, dynamic, and safe space for teaching and learning, research, tours, and programming.